The soldier known as “Thomas Christian,” “John Thomas Christian,” “John Thomas,” and “John Christian” was born in New Kent County, Virginia. He was married in Southampton County and lived in Nansemond County. The Special Examiner concluded “that he was for a time, a camp follower.” The investigation was complicated by the nearly simultaneous pension application of Thomas Christian, Company H, 1st US Colored Cavalry who lived in Norfolk, Virginia.
Widow, 502,824 / —– , Patience Christian
Declaration for Widow’s Pension, Patience Christian, 27 January 1891
40 years old; residence and post-office address, Magnolia, Nansemond Co., Va.; “… married under the name Patience Crocker to said Thomas Christian on the 10 day of May 1868, by a colored minister whose name she has forgotten at Southampton Co., Va…. that names and dates of birth of children now living under sixteen years of age of the soldier are as follows: Agnes, born 10th Feb 1876; Jordan, born 18th Nov 1880; Joseph, born 6th May 1884 … Also personally appeared, Henry Clark, residing at Suffolk, Va. and Exum White, residing at Suffolk, Va. … that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant and an acquaintance with her of 4 years and 6 years, respectively.”
Deposition, Patience Christian, 1 December 1891
40 years old; residence and post-office address, Magnolia, Nansemond County, Va.; occupation, housekeeper … “My husband told me he was born and reared in New Kent Co., Va. I first met him about 23 years ago and I married him about 21 years ago. We were married on Timothy Parham‘s plantation near Ivor Sta., Southampton Co., Va. I think we were married under a license. We were married by Rev. Sam Holmes (colored, now dead). My maiden name was Patience Crocker. I had not been married prior to my marriage to Thomas Christian, and he always told me that he had not been previously married. I had and have four children by my said husband viz. Laura, Agnes, Jordan, and Joseph. Laura was born August 1, 1873; Agnes was born Feby 10th 1876, Jordan was born Nov 18th, 1880 and Joseph was born May 15th 1884. I have no record of the dates … but given are correct. If, in my application, for pension I am made to state that Joseph was born May 6, 1884, it is an error for I gave a date as I have given it before. My mother Lizzie Rucker and Old Woman Linney Reed delivered me of my children but they are both dead. …
A. Yes, sir, he was known as John Thomas Christian and he told me that he went into the army under the name of John Thomas. He was generally known as John Christian. That was the name he went by in this neighborhood when we lived for 20 years before & his death. I married him as John Christian and if our license was recorded will be found in the name of John Christian and Patience Crocker.”
Deposition, Henry Crocker, 1 December 1891
49 years old; residence and post-office address, Magnolia, Nansemond County, Va.; occupation, farmer … “I am a brother to Patience Christian the claimant I have known her all her life … I was present when [her husband] died. Claimant had and has four children by her said husband viz. Laura, Sarah, Jordan, and Joseph all of whom are yet living. I cannot give the date of birth of said children. No, I was not present at the marriage of claimant to said Jno. Thomas Christian … [the wounded veteran reported] that he had been wounded while in service and he often showed me a wound on his right leg near the ankle which he said he received during service. I first met him about 20 years ago.”
Deposition, James Chapel, 1 December 1891
45 years old; residence and post-office address, Magnolia, Nansemond Co., Va.; occupation, farmer … “I have known the claimant Patience Christian all her life. We were reared together but I was not present at her marriage to Jno. Thomas or Jno. Thomas Christian, as he was usually known. I first met claimant’s husband in July 1864. I was a member of Co. F, 38th USCT and claimant’s husband belonged to Co. I, 1st USCC. I am not positive that he was in Co. I but I know that he was a member of the 1st Regt. USCC. The regiment to which I belonged and the 1st USCC were brigaded together during the summer and fall of 1864 and when we were in front of Petersburg, Va. in July 1864 I became acquainted with clt’s husband. I knew him in service as Jno. Thomas and after discharge as Jno. Thomas Christian. I think the 1st Cav left my regt. in Oct 1864 and after leaving us said soldier was wounded in the right ankle … he had a sore on his right ankle … Yes, sir. clt’s husband died in August 1890 but I do not remember the day of the month.”
Letter from Special Examiner H.P. Maxwell, Norfolk, Virginia, to Green B. Raum, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, DC, 7 October 1892
“Sir — I have the honor to return the papers and submit my report in the claim of Original Invalid No. 591,838 of Thomas Christian (dec’d) and No. 502,524 of Patience Christian, widow of the above named Thomas Christian alleged to have been a member of Co. “I” 1st USCC, also the papers in the case of Thomas Christian late Co. H, 1st USCC, Ctf 402,640. This case was returned to me for the purpose of ascertaining the service of the claimant’s husband and the name under which he rendered service. I have had this case on hand a number of months during which time I have made careful and continued search for testimony which would or might attempt to elucidate the points in obscurity but I find nothing whatever to connect the alleged soldier with the service, as a soldier, and I have come to the conclusion that he was for a time, a camp follower. James Chapel who swears that he saw John Christian in service is not reliable by means of being mentally defective. Wm. Pegram [sp?] who testified, by affidavit, that he knew Christian in service and knows of his alleged wounding is dead. His testimony is considered worthless as he had the reputation of being ready to accommodate anyone with a statement for small consideration or a prospect thereof.”As both claims now stand there is absolutely nothing upon which to base a claim for pension and the widow swears that she is unable to throw any further light on the matter relating to her husband’s service or his history prior to 1867. This being the case and every means known to the Examiner of obtaining further information touching the points at issue having been exhausted. It seems to me the case is a proper one for rejection and I so recommend.”
Deposition, Willis Godwin, 3 October 1892
49 years old; post-office address, Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va.; occupation, wood sawyer … “I served as a private in Co H. 1st USCC during the late war and I know Thomas Christian of said company [Company H] well. He is a tall, black man and now lives in Norfolk, Va. I also knew a John Christian who lived and died at Magnolia, Virginia, but I did not get acquainted with him until a year or more after my discharge from service and he tried to tell me that he served in the same company as me but I could not locate him as having been a member of said company, but on the strength of what he told me I made an affidavit for use in his pension claim. Charles Cowling signed the same affidavit with me but our statements as they appear in said affidavit were based on John Christian‘s statements as to his service and his alleged wounding. When I first met John Christian in 1867 or 68 he was then lame from what he said was a bullet wound of one of his legs.”
Deposition, Charles Cowling, 3 October 1892
53 years old; post-office address, Suffolk, Nansemond Co., Va.; occupation, laborer … “I served during the late war in Co. A, 1st USCC and I have a vague recollection of having known a Thomas Christian who belonged to Co. H of said regiment. I also know a man by the name of John Christian who lived and died at Magnolia in this county and whose widow Patience Christian now lives near said place. I got acquainted with this man John Christian soon after my discharge from service and he got me to make an affidavit for him to the effect that he was the Thomas Christian who served in Co. H of the 1stUSCC and from what he told me I thought he was the man but I now know that he was not that man. No, sir, I have not known Patience Christian’s husband by any other name than John Christian …. No, sir, I have never known a John Thomas or a John Henry Thomas who served or may have served in the army during the late war…. I now repudiate the statements made by me in my affidavit dated Feby 21, 1887…”
Deposition, Patience Christian, 7 October 1892
43 years old; post-office address, Magnolia, Nansemond Co., Va. … “…The only thing I ever heard my husband say about his former history was that he was born and in New Kent Co., Va. …”
1st U.S. Colored Cavalry 